The Arizona Cardinals are finally leaving a player they have struggled to find a role for, as the team announced Tuesday that it has released wide receiver Andy Isabella. In a corresponding move, the Cardinals signed center Billy Price, who was a first-round pick from the Cincinnati Bengals in 2018.
Isabella was a clearly targeted head coach Kliff Kingsbury player in the 2019 NFL Draft as the UMass product was selected in the second round with the No. 62 overall pick. He was selected from future NFL stars such as DK Metcalf, Diontae Johnson and Terry McLaurin, but his opportunities at the next level were limited.
Isabella caught just nine passes for 189 yards and a touchdown in her rookie season. He caught 21 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns in his second season in the NFL, but his playing time dwindled in 2021 — as he caught only one pass all year. This offseason, Isabella was got permission to look for a job. His agent, Bradley Blank, told CBS Sports NFL Insider Josina Anderson that he plans to contact the teams during the free agency period.
“I think we all concluded, including the Cardinals, that maybe it would be best for Andy to get a fresh start,” Blank told Anderson in March.
No business partner has ever materialized for Isabella, and now she will have a chance to start over somewhere else. This season, Isabella has caught two passes for 21 yards.
“They put the odds in their favor, but I don’t mind that,” Isabella said during pre-season. “I’m going to show up everyday and do what I have to do. They can do whatever they want, they won’t break me.”